[img= http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h461/kathichan1/ariacastshot.png]
 
Heart pounding, she stared up at the empty guild in despair. The usually bustling square was eerily silent, causing the hairs on the back of her neck to prickle as she tried to catch her breath. The shopkeepers’ stands stood unattended, and nobody stood next to the pillar where she and Xan had agreed to meet. Against her wishes her body quivered, hands clenched into shaking fists. 

“[i]What’s this? Is the girlie feeling looonely?[/i]” 

Aria jumped, whipping around wildly and trying to find the source of the screeching laughter. 
“Who’s there? Who are you? Where is everyone?!” She demanded frantically. No matter where she looked, the town was as still as ever save the wind rippling over the trees. “Are you the one behind all this-”

“[i]Slow down, sweetheart![/i]” The voice cackled, a sound not unlike a combination of a blackboard being scraped and crunching gravel. “[i]So many questions, too many questions. I’m nobody important, so we won’t talk too much about me. I was the one who took away all your friends though, I’ll admit to that at least. Aww, don’t make that face! I did it for your sake, after all.[/i]” The voice softened into what Aria thought was its version of a croon, and she gritted her teeth, glaring up to the sky

“What do you mean, for my sake? What did you do to them? If you’ve hurt them in any way-” 

“[i]Now, now, my dear,[/i]” it interrupted once again, crooning in a manner as if it pitied her. “[i]I hardly need to explain this to you. You know, don’t you? That everyone will scorn and leave you when they finally realize what kind of person you truly are! Yes, see, you do know this![/i]” The voice laughed gleefully as Aria trembled, shrinking back with narrowed eyes. Before she could manage an answer the voice shrilled on. “[i]I know everything about you, darling. I've explored every nook and cranny of your silly little mind-And you’re absolutely right! Those little late night reflections and doubts are aaabsolutely justified, Aria. You[/i] are[i] just a horrible, cowardly, wretched little girl who nobody could ever love, hiding under a façade of confidence as to fool the people you don't deserve to love. One day you’ll be forced to drop that silly little mask, and when your ‘friends’ see you then, there’ll be nobody left.

In the end, I’m just saving you copious amounts of shame and heartbreak, love.[/i]”